The Scout looks at clubs that can be paired together effectively to help Fantasy Premier League managers make a strong start in 2019/20.
Brighton and Leicester
Defensive players from Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City can be rotated productively this season, offering potential for points at both ends of the pitch.
The Seagulls and Foxes were far more resilient at home last term. They combined for 11 clean sheets at home, compared with only six away.
By selecting a player from each side in their initial squad, and benching the one with the away match throughout the campaign, a Fantasy manager is guaranteed a home fixture in every Gameweek.
Brighton and Leicester also combine to offer a kind run of opponents in the early stages.
How to rotate in opening GWs
| GW | Home team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEI | WOL |
| 2 | BHA | WHU |
| 3 | BHA | SOU |
| 4 | LEI | BOU |
| 5 | BHA | BUR |
| 6 | LEI | TOT |
| 7 | LEI | NEW |
| 8 | BHA | TOT |
| 9 | LEI | BUR |
| 10 | BHA | EVE |
| 11 | BHA | NOR |
Rotating the two players as in the table above means they would face one of last season's top-six sides on only two occasions in the first 11 Gameweeks.
Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors in both instances, travelling to Leicester and Brighton in Gameweeks 6 and 8 respectively.
The Gameweek 6 match-up could be avoided by picking the Seagulls player instead, away against Newcastle United.
The alternative for Gameweek 8 is choosing a Leicester option at Liverpool.
Offensive threat
In addition to their clean-sheet potential, Brighton and Leicester have standout attacking options from the back.
Shane Duffy (£5.0m) produced five goals and two assists last season, while his fellow Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk (£4.5m) scored twice and could be less expensive.
For the Foxes, Ricardo Pereira (£6.0m) recorded two goals and eight assists in his debut season while Jonny Evans (£5.0m) offers the value route into Leicester's defence.
The Irishman claimed three clean sheets and 20 FPL points in the final three home matches under Brendan Rodgers last term.
Keeping it clean
Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) and Mat Ryan (£4.5m) could also appeal as a pairing in initial squads.
They offer the added potential of save points to go along with clean sheets.